Portugal (4) v (5) Nigeria
NIGERIA have beaten Portugal 5-4 in a well-fought match to decide the finalist for the Dignitary Cup.
Portugal (4) v (5) Nigeria
By Sebastian James
NIGERIA have beaten Portugal 5-4 in a well-fought match to decide the finalist for the Dignitary Cup.
The two sides started tentatively, with only a handful of shots between them and no goals in the first three minutes.
Nigeria’s Lukmon Jimoh decided to lift the pace of the match in the fourth minute. He had three shots for three goals that all came down the left side of the pitch and shots that beat the goalkeeper across his goal.
Portugal were finally able to score their first goal of the match after five minutes. Arliton Goncalves De Ceita Vilela made space for himself at the top of the goal area and finished with a well-placed shot past the goalkeeper.
Nigeria weren't happy sitting on their three-goal lead going into the second half and from the outset started peppering the Portugese goals, but they were unable to convert any of their shots to goals.
It was the Portugese that then went on the offensive, but unlike the Nigerians they were able to convert their opportunities to goals. Fabio Ramos was on the end of a well executed series of passes and shot in off the crossbar. It was then Vilela who scored his second of the match, after he turned in a quick corner.
Against the run of play, Shola Jacob scored for the Nigerians from just inside his half.
The Nigerians’ goal seemed to put the match beyond Portugal, but they kept fighting and found a goal of their own through Luis Rodrigues to put the pressure on.
It was to be the last score of the match, though, and left Nigeria with a win to put them into the final of the Dignitary Cup.
Photo: Photoworx